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Tag Archives: great game

For the history of my life, I rarely played musical game, not even the famous Dance Dance Revolution during 90’s and early 2000’s. However, lately a lot of musical game, specially for mobile are really well-developed. Since it’s designed in 2010’s and onwards, they (developers) are using more futuristic musics, usually marked with techno style. I’m not really a techno guy, so I move to something else. My friend played a piano one before, might be reviewed next time. But for today, I wanna highlight the violin one called Violin : Magical Bow by rubycell. This developers also produced the piano one I’ve stated previously.

Since this is really a simple but magnificent game, I think I don’t need a long story to extract all the greatness, so here it is. Playing Violin : Magical Bow is like being an instant virtual violinist due to its amazing concept. First, we’ll talk about its music playlist. So far, every songs that I’ve ever played in the game is a classical notes. Take names of legendary maestro and composers like Bach, Brams, and many more at your song lists. You can play that with your virtual violin (or cello and viola if you buy the in-game purchase). Those masterpieces are right in your hand to play. But, not every musics are unlocked at the same time. You need to play some songs, make progress, gain experience, and level up to unlock next songs. The higher your level, the more songs in your book.

Now, for the game mechanics. All you’re presented with is just a violin with moving colorful nodes. All you have to do is play that node. Don’t worry it’s not that hard (in the beginning). Since there are 4 strings, there are 4 different areas for corresponding string. When a node reach the black circle point, you need to place your bow at the corresponding string area and start swiping left or right to make the sound by hitting that node. You go like this until the song is finished. Each nodes give you points for scoring system at the end of each song. Sometimes the nodes are a bit longer so you need to swipe slowly like dealing with the real violin. Timing and tempo are important in Violin : Magical Bow. Also sometimes, you’ll meet machine gun-like strings of nodes, so you need to play your bow carefully to get full points.

TBH, I don’t play the cello and viola version since I don’t have the budget to do so, but the violin itself is so dam* great. I don’t know much of classical instruments or compositions, but I like hearing some classical songs. I enjoy the song and the gameplay. The viola and cello have different game mechanics, I think, and I’m eager to try them sometimes in the future.

Anyway, leave some comments if you have ideas or recommendations for me, leave like if you enjoy reading my stories. Right now, I’m still collecting materials for foodie trip for future blog entries :D. Follow my IG account @bitethatfood, and stay tuned for my next stories.

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.

A game with deep story is my favorite and this type includes Distraint which was developed by Jesse Makkonen. This game was originally launched for PC but later came the android version. This game was designed with pixelated graphic and in 2D side-scrolling movement. I don’t usually play horror game, but this game was rated almost perfectly at 4.9 in Google Play, so I decided to give it a run.. and I don’t regret it up to this point.

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I think my pictures above have described Distraint fully with only 3 sentences, but I won’t stop here. I’m gonna share my experiences and what I feel throughout this game since the game mechanics are really superb.

First of all, as one of the picture described, the graphic HUD or UI is really simple. You have 5 barely-visible buttons at the bottom of your screen, left and right for movement, A for action, O for option, and B for I-forget-what since I played this game a few months ago. Find out by playing the game, I recommend it. 😀

In Distraint, you’ll gain control of a young ambitious man named Price, in doing his daily job, some kind of debt collector or so. He’s so ambitious and target-oriented that somehow he forgot some life values that he should adore more than money and position. This game brought up that story with unique plot and amazing detail, as well as some horror ‘spices’ for a full-meal game. The universe may start in a usual city and environment but as you progress throughout the game, you’ll face more weirdos, creeps, and other unexplainable stuffs and events. At the end, you’ll find out what really happen with Price’s life as well as a surprisingly shocking ending.

Distraint is mainly a side-scrolling puzzle game so you’ll need more brain than brawl to complete it. It’s not a few times that you’ll face a complex problem that let you explore the same area for a few times only to get a single clue. I admit that this puzzle’s level (overall) is amazing. It’s not that easy to solve but not not very hard as well. Balanced. You just need to be thorough in exploring areas or objects. The horror portion isn’t that much actually since it’s more about the story, but several light-jumpscares do exists in this game. Don’t worry, that won’t give too much shock 😀

After all, this game gave me really great experience in playing light-horror game. I love the story, the ending, and the moral lessons they packed this game with. Since I’m still tied with limitation, especially with gaming platform, I’ll still cover mobile games and I need to explore even deeper in Google Play. Anyway, if you have any recommendations/ideas/opinions for me, pour me some words at the comment section, give like if you enjoy reading my stories, and stay tuned for my next foodie/gaming experiences.

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.

First thing first, actually I played this game about couple years ago, so I’m not recently updated if there’re new things on this game. Another thing is, since yesterday I was sick and I can barely think about content, and today is, in fact I still haven’t regained the consciousness balance in my mind. So, forgive me if some words are messed up or doesn’t even make sense, hahah..

OK, let’s talk about the game. So originally, my friend told me about this game called Reaper which was developed by Hexage. Back then, it’s a paid game. Not really, actually. You can download this game for free on Google Play but you don’t get full feature with it. There are some stuffs you can buy inside the game including the full story and/or some item sets. So, yeah if you want to have a taste on the game, you might want to try the free version first, then if you want the full version (which I’m pretty sure most of you do), support the developer by buying the in-game purchase.

Reaper is generally a mixed-genres game. It consists of 2D side-scrolling (which is so obvious) + hack and slash + RPG (espesially on character development). This game’s concept was pretty unique since that was the first time I played such game with this gameplay. I’m talking about its technical feature including controls and game mechanics.

Being a hack and slash game, you actually don’t need to tap-slam any button/screen since the game will do it automatically for you. All you need is approach enemies and the Reaper (main character) is going to attack them automatically. That’s called auto-attacks. Auto attacks resulting in gaining those skull marks at the top part of screen. That skull marks are used to unleashed strong skills like slamming down your sword for ground attack or upper-swing to attack airborne enemies. Those kind of skills are called manual attacks. You actually can unleash manual attack without having any skull marks but that will do weak damage.

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For the character developments, it’s similar to RPG games since you can customize your own set of equipment including sword, helmet, gloves, belt, and some others. These gears could be bought at item shops using golds that you gain from destroying objects or defeating enemies. Another thing is, you can customize your character’s attributes. After a level up, you can gain access to attribute enhancement by picking a tarot card per level. You can adjust this advancement with your playing style or preference. For me, it’s always power first since it’s better to defeat enemies faster :D.

Giving players responsibilities of enhancing their own hero is one secret in making immersive games, especially when it comes to simple side scrolling games since it doesn’t have a lot of feature to bear. Thus, Reaper could be a really great example in creating game mechanics. Players can adjust their own hero to create something matches their own playing style.

Anyway, I think it’s for now, pour some comments if you have any ideas, opinions or game recommendations, leave like if you enjoy reading my stories and stay tuned for my next stories and experience.

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.

Even a hardcore gamer plays casual games at some points, especially during break or spare time. For me, the best casual game actually is the one that can provide simplicity but resulting in immersive gameplay. Like this one called Ultraflow which was developed by Ultrateam. They created two installments of brilliant games with common game mechanics but executed amazingly to be a sophisticated games. Both installments are very similar only a few features added.

As you can see on some screen captures above, the graphic style is really minimalist. It’s more like simple vector shapes including circles, triangles, squares, and several polygons. It’s featured with monochromatic theme, only 2 colors available per stage (even it’s constantly changing per stage), the background and the object. There’s no time limit nor timer system in this game, so, take your time to plan your moves.

Your only goal is sending that circular object/avatar with numbers inside, to its place (the other circular object which is slightly bigger and have nothing inside it). When you can reach the goal’s outline, your object will be automatically dragged inside, so don’t worry if you don’t hit the object precisely. The way you send it to the goal is by flicking (swiping your phone screen) to a specific trajectory and bounce it so it will eventually get inside the goal. BUT, you cannot freely bounche it off. The number inside the object, and bottom of the screen indicate the amount of bounces you can actually do. If it exceed, then, POOF!, game over. So make sure to calculate the path properly.

As you progress through the games, the obstacles and panels would be so vary. You can face some panels like hyper bouncing objects, specific direction-go objects, destructible objects, and many more. All you need is turn them into your advantages, to reach your goal ultimately. Sometimes, the unexpected happened, especially if you miss-flick the trajectory but somehow it leads directly to the goal. 😀

Being designed so simple, Ultraflow is really mesmerizing. Playing just a few levels won’t be enough. Without realizing, you’ll play this game all along or few hours, at least that’s what happened to me. The sensation of anger when your trajectories aren’t working even you think that’s the best possibilities really give some additional plus point. So far, I still have no complain for this game, though. 😀

Anyway, if you have ideas, opinions, game recommendations, just leave me some words on the comment section, give like if you enjoy reading my stories, and see you on my next experience :D.

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.

For today, I’ll jump to another platform to talk about another game. Couple months ago I saw this game and I decided to try it. I’m quite a fan of retro-style gaming designed with 8-bit graphic style, so without further thinking, I jumped into this game.

That game was called Owlboy, and was developed by D-Pad Studio. Owlboy is a side-scrolling 2D platformer game with an interesting plot and settings. You’ll gain control of a mute pupil owl, just an ordinary student which is always underrated by his classmates, called Otus. Being the fact that he’s a mute owl boy, he’s living with burden of being underestimated of his own and true capabilities. He lives in a airborne village and has a best friend who’s a local engineer/inventor named Geddy. Despite of being a non-confrontational manner, Geddy will always be ready to back Otus up whenever he’s in danger.

Otus(cute design, though :D)

The journey of this couple in Owlboy starts when a group of sky pirate attacks and raids the village and the two are bound to seek revenge. Moving through the plot, you’ll gain some allies to aid you in help, as well as accessing some spaces with their special abilities. If you’re trying to complete the side stories, you’ll even go deeper with the original story of that village, or the world. You’re gonna explore the history and background of what’s left today. I recommend everyone to play this game. Cool as heck!

Since Owlboy is basically a 2D side-scrolling game, the movements are limited. You’ll only be able to move forward, backward, up, and down. However, this game combines flight system with the ordinary side-scrolling concept, thus you can go airborne and reach or explore even broader area. Owlboy‘s map is actually gigantic, therefore I can consider this game to be an open world 2D platformer. This is terrific since there’re not many games with similar concepts.

The game also provides you some puzzles to solve and sometimes they’re to reach secret area and pursue deeper stories. Some puzzles need certain and specific way to solve, including using your allies’ special abilities, thus not every puzzles can be solved before reaching some points in the story and recruit new crews. I think the only drawback is the game is too short :D. D-Pad studio, please make similar game but with waaay longer playtime :D.

Owlboy is a great game, everything is so balanced. The puzzles aren’t that hard to solve, the story line is deep and interesting, graphic style is really nostalgic (it brings me to my time when I was playing Nintendo, even Owlboy‘s graphic is more complex pixelated style). It’s unconsciously making me to go deeper and deeper by completing all the side story, but sadly I can’t get the last item from the village item shop because it needs every single coins in the game to buy. I need more game like this, simple but immersive. Anyway, follow my blog for more stories, give like if you enjoy reading my post, and pour some words in the comment section if you have recommendations, ideas, or opinions. Stay tuned for the next story.

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.

Before I state anything, I’m gonna say that this is one of my favorite mobile games ever.

OK, now get to the game. My friend and I were looking for some coop games that could be played together. I stumbled across this game, called WarFriends. This cool game was developed by Chillingo. Looks like this developer has some similar great games and mostly rated with around 4 stars on Google Play.

The main concept of WarFriends is 1 v 1 PVP battle and you can have different opponent per each match. PVP battle could be a common concept but the interesting concept lays on its gameplay. Basically, you are controlling a soldier to battle your opponent in a death-match skirmish. You and your opponent will be provided with 5 tactical shields as covers (for you to hide from enemies’ bullets). You will hide behind this covers and you can change covers for your own advantages.

Let’s see how WarFriends is really constructed with unique concept..

The graphic style is 3D already, but not that serious realistic 3D style, but looks more to cute side instead, with chibi-like characters. As you can see there, the battleground is a face-to-face area with special covers for each players and several sand-sacks and pile-of-bricks covers for any deployed armies. Yes, both players can deploy additional armies (which could be customized, upgraded, and set for each players’s battle style). These armies consist of machine gunner, grenadier, and many ore. Every tactical shield covers can be destroyed especially with heavy weapons like grenades and so on, but it will be automatically repaired in a short time.

WarFriends provides a unique gameplay that you might not find it before. You can’t rush directly to your opponent’s position, but you can change cover to the shields next to you. You might want to deploy some additional armies to help you gain victory by tapping the armies’ icons on the bottom left corner. They will attack automatically to both your opponent or his armies that have been deployed. Now, how do you attack your enemies? Simply tap and hold your screen to attack. Your default weapon is assault rifle and by holding the screen, you’ll release a barrage of bullets. Throwing grenades by swiping the screen to the target’s position. You can use sniper rifle as well. By holding rifle while the sniper is active, you can zoom in to the point where you hold the screen to gain better view of your opponents. Damage is massive if you can score a headshot.

Now, this is my first time playing such game with cool gaming experience, especially how they (developers) create the battleground. By giving players capability to control their crosshair to the selected opponent, it give totally different experience (at least for me) and Chillingo as the developer gains my 2-thumbs-up. The more interesting thing is, you can do PvP with your friends by inviting via Google Play or Facebook account (if I recall correctly). It’s good to play such an amazing game and if you have some suggestions, ideas, or opinions, don’t hesitate to pour some words at the comment section. Give like if you enjoy reading my stories, and see you on the next experiences.

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.

Lately I found a game (actually its successor) but it’s still at the 1st part and the developer is still working on it. This game is called Zombie Exodus : Save Haven. Upon playing the first part, my friend told me there’s another similar game, the previous installment called Zombie Exodus. This one has been fully developed and was a very interesting game. Hosted Games as the developer really nails their job at making such simple games with exciting experience for players.

If you play this game, you can count, maybe the amount of pictures in this game (excluding this game cover)

could be less than ten, really. Even those in-game pictures during stories are just basically sketches, rough sketches, just to make a simple image in players’ mind about what happened on Zombie Exodus universe. That cover artwork is pretty awesomely drawn, though. 😀

The gameplay is simple, you read and choose. Really, that simple. Like any other choose your own story games. Like this, as an example of one in-game screen..

See, a minimalist tone isn’t it? Basically it’s just 95% texts. Zombie Exodus‘s selling point is its storyline. The story is very complex for ‘just’ a game. The creator (or storyline artists probably) really did their job amazingly at describing every situations in the game. They gave us extraordinarily detailed ‘images’ of the story. You will start at the same point but will have 9 different endings depends on how you progress throughout the story.

My own favorite thing here in Zombie Exodus is its character development, even with deeper feature in the next installment, Zombie Exodus : Safe Haven. In that last picture, it’s a screenshot of a scene where you can decide your own profession/job. In this game you can choose 1 among 5 and each might results in different endings. Then there’s the character status including strength, dexterity, intelligence, and charisma. Each could be developed through some ways inside the game and each would really matter in the story. For example, you could die in a battle with zombie only you’re lacking strength, meanwhile higher strength could easily kill zombie and carry more items. That kind of possibilities.

I won’t spoil too much story of this game, but inside you’ll encounter a lot of crossroads like rejecting/accepting new crew, recruiting people, killing someone/something, and so on. Each relationship with people are displayed and can affect your story. You can be hated or loved by people. You can even have boyfriend/girlfriend. Hah! That’s it! A little bit of romance inserted during zombie apocalypse :D.

Anyway, even 9 different ending possibilities are featured, I only tried 2. Too tired to get everything. First playthrough got a ‘so-so’ ending (IMO), and the second run got a quite interesting and a little bit sad ending (IMO as well). Overall, I love this game, specially the part that you can choose your own in-game fate hahaha. Looks like the developer also made some different themed games and I think I might try those. Last but not least, if you enjoy reading my entire story, give like below, and give some comments if you have any ideas/opinions. See you on the next stories!

CHEERS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I also do some artworks (in self-practice as well, actually), if you’d like to visit, you are very welcomed to my Artstation and Patreon profile.